Method for the automatic identification of a type of vehicle on a test stand

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method for automatically identifying a type of vehicle or a type of tire on a test stand. Said method comprises the following steps: a) predetermined parameters characterizing the type of vehicle or type of tire are supplied; b) a test stand encompassing a plurality of sensors is provided; c) at least some areas of a vehicle or tire are sensed on the test stand; d) at least one vehicle or tire property is determined from values sensed by means of at least some of the sensors. Said method is characterized in that: e) the properties determined in step d) are compared with the predetermined parameters; f) the type of vehicle or type of tire is assigned based on the result obtained in step e), or parameters of a new type of vehicle or type of tire are defined if a type of vehicle or type of tire cannot be assigned because properties fail to match the parameters.

This invention relates to a method for the automatic identification of a type of vehicle or a type of tire on a test stand. In this context, “type of vehicle” thereby also means the body of a vehicle, or a car body type for short.

The ability to specify nominal values and tolerances is an important requirement for the automatic servicing of a vehicle. These parameters. include, for example, the specified tire pressure and the allowable tolerance. Automatic test stands such as those for tire pressure, for example, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,817 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,020.

The object of the invention is therefore to make available a method for the automatic identification of a type of vehicle or a type of tire on a test stand so that the default settings for nominal values and tolerances can be made automatically. The invention teaches that this object is accomplished by the method described in Claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The method claimed by the invention for the automatic identification of a type of vehicle or a type of tire on a test stand has the following steps:

a) Delivery of predetermined parameters that characterize the type of vehicle or the type of tire;

b) Delivery of a test stand which has a plurality of sensors;

c) Sensing of at least areas of a vehicle or of a tire on the test stand;

d) Determination of at least one characteristic of the vehicle or of the tire from values, at least some of which have been sensed by the sensors;

e) Comparison of the characteristics determined in Step d) with the predetermined parameters;

f) Classification of the type of vehicle or of the type of tire on the basis of the result from Step e) or, if a classification is not possible on account of a lack of coherence of characteristics with the parameters, definition of parameters or a new vehicle model and/or of a new tire model.

The characteristics to be determined can be, for example, the tire width and the tire profile, from which the type of tire can be identified. The type of vehicle can also be determined from the track width of each axle, the distance between axles, the axle load and the total weight of the vehicle. Characteristics to be determined can also include the rigidity values of the tire, which are the result of the strength of the sides of the tire, and the transverse forces (contact area effects), as well as tire pressure, tire load, load distribution over the axles etc.

Once the classification has been made, the nominal values and tolerances, which can be stored in a database for example, can be assigned to the variable operating values.

It is also advantageous if a verification is made whether a sensed or measured value lies within a specified range of nominal values or tolerance for the type of vehicle or the type of tire, and if the value lies outside the range of nominal values or tolerance an action is taken that brings the value into the range of nominal values or tolerance. A simple indication of the result of the verification is possible, e.g. yes/no, so that the decision on any action to be taken can be left to the user.

It is advantageous if each parameter is assigned a weighting which is taken into consideration in Step f) of the classification of the type of vehicle or type of tire.

It is also appropriate if an acceptance range is associated with each parameter, whereby the acceptance range is adapted for the parameters of each type of vehicle or type of tire so that the classification in Step f) is clear and unambiguous.

The last two measures are particularly important if the method is required to “learn” or define a new type of vehicle. In this case, a still unknown type of vehicle is driven over the measurement instrument. The vehicle type data determined are then associated with the vehicle being newly tested. For this purpose, recurring verifications must be made whether a clear and unambiguous distinction between all types of vehicles can be made on the basis of the detailed data determined or whether collisions can occur. In the latter case, appropriate measures such as the reduction of the acceptance ranges or the introduction of new parameters must be considered.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of possible parameters that can be included in the identification of the type of vehicle; and

FIG. 2 which is in the form of a table, presents an example for the acceptance widths of parameters for a trailer 1 vehicle type.

FIG. 1 shows the parameters that can be included in the vehicle type identification. These parameters include the number of axles as well as the number of tires per axle, the track width on each axle, the distances between axles, the weight of the vehicle, the axle load, the tire load and the tire width. The values for the characteristics measured are logically joined for the identification of the vehicle. The characteristics can be weighted and their weighting can be varied. For example, an intelligent network can be used, such as a neuronal network, for example, or a network based on fuzzy logic, to identify the type of vehicle.

FIG. 2 shows in table form the acceptance ranges which are stored for important parameters of a vehicle type which is described by way of example.

The characteristics of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the accompanying drawing and in the claims can be considered essential for the realization of the invention both individually as well as in any desired combination. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A method for the automatic identification of a type of vehicle on a test stand, comprising the steps: a) delivery of predetermined parameters that characterize the type of vehicle or the type of tire; b) delivery of a test stand which has a plurality of sensors; c) sensing of at least areas of a tire on the test stand; d) determination of at least one characteristic of the vehicle from values, at least some of which have been sensed by the sensors; e) comparison of the characteristics determined in Step d) with the predetermined parameters; and f) classification of the type of vehicle on the basis of the result from Step e) or, if a classification is not possible on account of a lack of coherence of characteristics with the parameters, definition of parameters or a new vehicle model.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the characteristics tire width, tire tread, rigidity of the tire, tire pressure, tire load, number of tires per axle, track width of at least one axle of the vehicle, the distances between the individual axles, current axle load, load distribution over the axles and the total weight of the vehicle are sensed or are determined from sensed values.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the type of vehicle is associated with nominal values and/or tolerances for the measured operating parameters of the vehicle.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein a verification is performed to determine whether a sensed or measured value lies within a specified range of nominal values or tolerance, and if the value lies outside the range of nominal values or tolerance, an action is carried out which brings the value into the range of nominal values or tolerance.
 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein a weighting is associated with each parameter, the weighting being included in Step f) of the classification of the type of vehicle.
 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein an acceptance range is associated with each parameter, whereby the acceptance ranges for the parameters of each type of vehicle are adjusted so that the classification in Step f) is clear and unambiguous. 